Sir Terry Pratchett: A Fantastical Mind Moved On

Sir Terry Pratchett, famed fantasy author, passed on to another world today. He is one of England’s most read authors next to JK Rowling, and has influenced countless writers, artists, and game designers. He was an avid technologist and video game geek. His most famous series, Discworld, inspired music, video games, graphic novels, and role playing games.

Discworld spans over 40 novels and short stories. He collaborated with Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen on 4 books on the science of Discworld. He expanded the universe onto film and television, radio, comics, video games, and stage adaptations. His work is a testament to world building like few others.

Discworld is about a flat disc balanced on four elephants on top of a giant turtle. It is a world that mirrors current political, social, and scientific issues, and parodies fantasy and mythological elements and motifs.

Early in his career, he wrote 2 science fiction novels. In 1976, he published The Dark Side of the Sun, taking inspiration from Isaac Asimov. The story involves a mysterious race called the Jokers and, in the far future, their race is extinct as the future races only have engineered artifacts and a poem that reveals that they have gone to their new home, the dark side of the sun.

His second science fiction novel, Strata, was published in 1981. It involves ideas about an alternate reality to the origins and history of our planet and how secrets are being protected to keep it that way.

Later in his life, Terry Pratchett suffered from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and made significant contributions to its research.

Andrew Bliss is an award winning film maker and photographer with experience in writing, directing, producing, editing, and visual effects. He has lived all over the world including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Italy. He is a first generation Indonesian and a second generation Fin. He has over six years experience as a US Navy broadcast journalist. While in the Navy, he graduated top of his class, won several awards for his work in Europe and Africa, managed Marines at Combat Camera at the Pentagon, and produced a feature film. The film was produced in Italy while on active duty. Prior to serving in the Navy, Andrew was a professional martial artist with numerous awards including Athlete of the Year (1999), International Champion (two years in a row), and was the first competitor to place first in seven events in international competition (two years in a row). He trained with the prestigious Beijing Wushu team and has over ten years experience as a coach and mentor. After serving in the Navy, he taught for Apple, made several award winning short films, and earned a degree in Interactive Design. He is also an alumnus of the USC School of Cinematic Arts.